Iran’s BRICS Moment: Can Pezeshkian Use Delhi To Break Tehran’s Isolation?

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to New Delhi for the BRICS Summit comes at a critical time for Tehran. Iran is facing continued US economic pressure and sanctions, while the ongoing conflict in West Asia is reshaping relations across the region. Against this backdrop, the BRICS meeting gives Pezeshkian an opportunity to engage with major emerging powers, including India, China and Russia.

Pezeshkian is among the key leaders attending the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13. His presence comes as the expanded grouping seeks to strengthen cooperation among major economies of the Global South.

Why Pezeshkian’s Delhi Visit Matters

For Tehran, BRICS is an important diplomatic and economic platform. Iran became a BRICS member as part of the 2024 expansion, allowing

it to deepen engagement with countries that continue to maintain ties with Tehran despite Western pressure.

Pezeshkian’s visit also puts him in the same diplomatic space as Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For Iran, such high-level engagement provides an opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and seek greater cooperation at a time of mounting pressure.

The summit is also taking place as BRICS adjusts to its expanded membership. The 11-member grouping represents around 49.5% of the world’s population, 40% of global GDP and 26% of global trade, according to the Indian government.

Iran’s Challenge: Economic And Diplomatic Pressure

Iran has faced years of US sanctions and economic restrictions. The current conflict has added further uncertainty for Tehran, affecting its regional relationships and economic interests.

BRICS gives Iran another channel for high-level engagement even as its relationship with Western countries remains strained. However, the grouping is not a military alliance, and its members do not always share the same foreign-policy positions.

That difference has become particularly visible during the current West Asia crisis.

Iran-UAE Tensions Test BRICS Unity

One of the clearest challenges for BRICS is the divide between Iran and the UAE, both of which are members of the grouping.

The conflict has put further pressure on their economic relationship. Reuters reported that the UAE suspended trade and financial dealings with Iran following Iranian missile attacks.

The divisions have also affected BRICS diplomacy. In May, the bloc’s foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement after differences emerged over the Iran conflict. India subsequently issued a chair’s statement instead.

This raises a key question ahead of the leaders’ meeting: Can an expanded BRICS find common ground on the Iran crisis when its own members have sharply different positions?

India Could Be Important For Tehran

India is particularly significant for Iran because New Delhi has maintained its relationship with Tehran while also developing close ties with the United States and other Western countries.

Modi and Pezeshkian recently met on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek on August 31. During the meeting, Modi reiterated India’s position that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. He also stressed the importance of protecting freedom of navigation and commerce. India said it was ready to work with Iran through multilateral platforms, including BRICS and the SCO.

The BRICS Summit now gives the two leaders another opportunity to discuss bilateral ties as well as the rapidly changing situation in West Asia.

Can BRICS Help Iran Overcome Isolation?

The Delhi summit alone is unlikely to end Iran’s economic and diplomatic isolation. BRICS cannot remove Western sanctions or resolve the wider conflict.

But for Tehran, the grouping can provide valuable diplomatic space.

Pezeshkian can use his meetings in Delhi to strengthen ties with India, China, Russia and other BRICS members, while exploring opportunities for greater economic and political cooperation. These engagements could help Iran maintain important international partnerships despite pressure from the West.

For Iran, therefore, the BRICS Summit is about more than attending another international meeting. It is an opportunity for Pezeshkian to demonstrate that Tehran still has diplomatic partners and avenues for engagement with major powers outside the Western bloc.